The Oxford-Lapeer East match-up on Friday was just what the doctor ordered.
After a difficult loss the week before the Wildcats needed a strong showing leading into its biggest game of the year this week against league-leading Linden.
The Cats got just what was needed against East, winning 42-0.
Coach Bud Rowley said the win was a great way to bounce back after a difficult last-minute loss to Lapeer West the week before.
‘It was a good win after last week, which was a killer,? Rowley said. ‘All week was tough. We were kicking ourselves for letting one get away. It was a tough week but this week we put 42 points on the board and rolled.?
Next up is undefeated Linden is in first-place in the Flint Metro League with a 5-0 league record. The Eagles have not allowed a score in their past four games and have held opponents to only 32 points in seven games while averaging 37 points per game. The game is set for 7 p.m. Friday in Oxford.
The Wildcats have suffered one league loss and need a victory Friday at home to have a shot at a tie for the league title and hopes for six victories and a post-season berth. Oxford’s final game of the regular season is next week at Fenton. The win gave the Cats a 4-3 overall record.
Oxford’s Sergio Schlak had his best game of the season, rushing for a season-high 165 yards on only 10 carries and tallying five touchdowns, three on runs and two on pass completions.
The Wildcat defense also had a solid outing led by Kam Mueller, Zach Line, who had a blocked punt and quarterback sack, and Vinnie Ives, who recorded two interceptions. The defensive corps held East to only 97 yards rushing and zero passing yards for the game.
Schlak scored twice in the opening quarter, the first on a 56-yard run with 3:42 remaining in the quarter. He repeated the feat with a 43-yard score on the same play that he scored earlier, an option pitch around the right side. The second score came with 23 seconds left in the quarter.
Schlak had all of Oxford’s 113 rushing yards in the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Schlak scored again, this time on a 13-yard pass from QB Billy Keenist with 6:19 left before halftime.
Oxford continued its offensive onslaught with another tally with 3:58 left in the quarter, on a seven yard run by Schlak. The score was set up on a blocked punt by Line and a recovery and run by John Logan down to the seven yard line.
Zach Wasylyna kicked the fourth of his six conversions for the Wildcats to give them a 28-0 halftime advantage.
The Wildcat had 212 yards in offense in the first half and East had 66 yards rushing. Schlak had seven rushes for 138 yards in the half.
In the third quarter, Schlak got his fifth score on a 23-yard pass from Keenist with 5:04 left.
The score gave the Wildcats a 35-0 advantage and meant there was a running clock for the remainder of the game. Most of the first-team offense did not play in the fourth quarter as Rowley got all of his players in the game.
Line closed out the scoring for the Wildcats on a 28-yard run with 11:16 left in the game.
The Wildcats had 349 total years, including 280 rushing. Keenist connected on four passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns.